Grape Growers of Ontario

April 15, 2009

Bill George Jr. re-elected as Chair for the 2009-2010 Term of Office

(St. Catharines, ON) Wednesday, April 15, 2009: Chief Executive Officer Debbie Zimmerman is pleased to announce that the Grape Growers of Ontario has re-elected Bill George Jr. as Chair of the Board for 2009-2010.

Bill George Jr. continues the tradition of growing grapes with his wife Lesliann and two children on his 80 acre family farm in the Town of Lincoln. George Jr. is also the longest serving member on the Grape Growers of Ontario Board of Directors.

Bill George Jr. commented "in the coming year we will continue to work towards Owning Our Ontario Market through change in legislation and industry strategies that will sell the Ontario grape crop and provide a viable future for the Ontario grape and wine industry”.

Matthias Oppenlaender has been elected Vice Chair. Oppenlaender lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario with his wife Monica and 5 children, farming close to 400 acres of wine grapes.

The following members were also elected as directors to the Board; Trevor Falk of Niagara-on-the-Lake; Steve Fernick of Grimsby; Jim Morrison of Jordan; Steve Pohorly of Niagara-on-the-Lake; Bill Schenck of St Catharines; and Kevin Watson of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Grape Growers of Ontario is the official organization that represents over 484 actively producing growers of 15,000 acres in the province’s four viticulture areas: Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County.

Contacts:

Debbie Zimmerman, CEO

Phone: 905-688-0990 ext. 225

or
Bill George Jr., Chair

Phone: 905-984-0994

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Archived
Media Releases

December 16 , 2009

The Grape Growers of Ontario Welcome the Federal Government's Investment in Research for Ontario Grape and Wine Industry

November 6 , 2009

Wines from Niagara-on-the-Lake Chosen as Official VQA Wines for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

October 14, 2009